Recyclable spring biased chiled resistent container closure

ABSTRACT

A closure for a container is provided. The closure has a spring that provides biasing forces for securing the closure to a container bottom and/or to bias a seal into sealing contact with a container bottom.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 63/086,411, filed Oct. 1, 2020, the entire teachings anddisclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to containers and particularly metalclosures for containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Containers are used to store many objects. Some containers provide childresistance which typically requires two separate actions to remove theclosure from the rest of the container. Further, some containers arerepeatedly opened and closed but it is desired to seal the containeronce the container is reclosed.

The present disclosure relates to improvements over the current state ofthe art for containers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an example, a container closure including a top wall, an annularskirt and a spring is provided. The annular skirt extends from the topwall. The annular skirt has a radially inward extending rib. A spring islocated between the radially inward extending rib and the top wall. Thespring has an outer dimension that is greater than an inner diameter ofthe rib. The spring has an inner dimension that is less than an innerdiameter of the rib.

In one example, the top wall and annular skirt are formed from acontinuous piece of stamped metal.

In one example, the spring is a wave spring formed from an annularundulating strip of material.

In one example, the spring is metal.

In one example, the spring has an axial height defined by theundulations.

In one example, the spring (e.g. strip of material forming the spring)has an axial thickness defined between a top surface of the spring and abottom surface of the spring. The spring has a width that is one-half ofthe difference between the inner and outer dimensions. The width isgreater than the thickness.

In one example, the spring is an annular member that extends around acentral axis. The height and axial thickness is measured generallyparallel to the central axis.

In one example, the annular skirt terminates in a curled end. The curledend has at least one attachment tab formed therein. The attachment tabextending radially inward further than the remainder of the curled end.The attachment tab is configured to cooperate with a thread of acontainer bottom to secure the annular skirt to the container bottom.

In one example, the container further includes a freshness seal. Thefreshness seal has a second outer diameter that is greater than theinner diameter of the rib. The freshness seal extends radially inwardbeyond the inner periphery of the rib providing an exposed lower surfacethat faces away from the top wall. The freshness seal is located betweenthe rib and the top wall. The freshness seal is positioned axiallybetween the rib and the spring. The freshness seal is axially slidablewithin the gap between the top wall and the rib.

In one example, when the freshness seal is moved a predetermineddistance from the rib towards the top wall, the spring biases thefreshness seal towards the rib.

In one example, the freshness seal is made from metal.

In one example, the freshness seal has a sealing surface that facesaxially away from the top wall. The sealing surface includes an annulargroove formed therein. The groove is positioned radially inward of theinner diameter of the rib.

In an example, a container including a container closure as outlinedabove and a container bottom is provided. The container bottom has astorage cavity. The container bottom has an annular sidewall. A free endof the annular sidewall defines a mouth to the storage cavity. Theannular sidewall defines a thread therein. The tab of the containerclosure cooperates with the thread of the annular sidewall to secure thecontainer closure to the container bottom. When the container closure issecured to the container bottom, the spring biases the tab into axialengagement with the thread.

In one example, the container includes a one-time use seal secured to afree end of the annular sidewall and over the mouth. The containerincludes freshness seal. When the container closure is secured to thecontainer bottom, the spring biases the freshness seal into the one-timeuse seal prior to removal of the one-time use seal.

In one example, when the one-time use seal is removed, the spring biasesthe sealing surface of the freshness seal into the free end of theannular sidewall when the container closure is secured to the containerbottom.

In one example, the thread has a rectangular receiving cavity at an endthereof for receipt of the tab when the container closure is fullyattached to the container bottom. The receiving cavity is axially offsetfrom a portion of the thread towards the mouth. The spring biases thetab into the rectangular receiving cavity such that the containerclosure must be pushed towards the container bottom before it can berotated to remove the container closure from the container bottom.

In one example, the thread and the rectangular receiving cavity are ribsformed into the annular sidewall of the container bottom.

Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded illustration of a container according to anexample;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, cross-sectional illustration of the container ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional illustration of thecontainer of FIG. 1 with the container closure removed from thecontainer bottom:

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged, partial cross-sectional illustration ofthe container of FIG. 1 with the container closure removed from thecontainer bottom;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, exploded, cross-sectional illustration of theclosure of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional illustration of the closure andbottom of the container of FIG. 1 secured to one another, but with theone-time use seal removed;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, cross-sectional illustration of the closure andbottom of the container of FIG. 1 secured to one another, but with theone-time use seal provided;

FIG. 8 is an even further enlarged, cross-sectional illustration of aportion of the closure and a portion of the container bottomillustrating the closure secured to the container bottom; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are illustrations of the container closure.

While the invention will be described in connection with certainpreferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to thoseembodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives,modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates, in partially exploded form, an example of acontainer 100 including a container closure 102 (also referred to hereinas “closure 102) and a container bottom 104 (also referred to herein as“bottom 104). The container 100 can be used to store product and in anexample is configured to child resistance features as it requires twoseparate actions to open the container 100. More particularly, in someexamples, the container 100 requires both an axial pushing motion aswell as a rotating motion to remove the closure 102 from the bottom 104.

The container 100 has a central axis 103.

With additional reference to FIG. 2, which is cross-sectionalillustration of the container 100, the container bottom 104 defines astorage cavity 106. An annular sidewall 108 surrounds the storage cavity106 and extends axially from a bottom wall 110. In this example, theannular sidewall 108 is formed from two separate components including anupper sidewall portion 112 and a lower sidewall portion 114.

In this example, the upper sidewall portion 112 would be formed frommetal and in one example, formed sheet metal. The upper sidewall portion112 defines a mouth 116 that provides access to the storage cavity 106.An upper end of sidewall 108, provided by the upper sidewall portion112, is curled to provide strength, hide any potential sharp edgescreated during cutting of the sheet metal, as well as to provide a sealsurface 118.

Further yet, the upper sidewall portion 112 includes a plurality ofthreads 120 that are formed (e.g. stamped) directly into the uppersidewall portion 112. These threads 120, in this example, extendradially outward. Each thread 120 includes a tab receiving pocket 122 atan end thereof for receiving a radially inward extending attachment tab124 of the container closure 102 to secure the closure 102 to the bottom104. In one example, the tab receiving pocket 122 has a generallyrectangular profile. Further, in operation, the attachment tab 124 ofthe closure 102 must be axially displaced out of the receiving pocket122 before the closure 120 can be rotated relative to the bottom 104 andthe thread 120 to remove the closure 102 from the bottom 104.

The lower sidewall portion 114 is attached to the upper sidewall portion112 at the connection 126 by a rolled and/or crimped portion of theupper sidewall portion 112. The lower sidewall portion 114 is attachedto the bottom wall 110 at connection 128 in a similar fashion.

In one example, the entire container bottom 104 is formed from sheetmetal components. In another example, the upper sidewall portion 112 andthe bottom wall 110 are formed from metal while the lower sidewallportion 114 is formed from cardboard, paper board, paper, plastic orother non-metallic material. In other examples, the entirety of thecontainer bottom 104 is formed from a single piece of material such asmolded plastic or formed sheet metal.

In one example, the container 100 includes a one-time use seal 128 thatattaches to the mouth 116 and particularly seal surface 118. Theone-time use seal 128 provides tamper evidence. Once the one-time useseal 128 is broken or removed from the seal surface 118 it will notreattach to the seal surface 118. The one-time use seal 128 includes apull tab 130 for ease of removal. The one-time use seal 128 may beadhesively secured to seal surface 118 or otherwise attached such as useof an ultrasonic bonding technique.

With reference to FIGS. 3-5, the closure 102 includes a lid top 138 thatincludes an annular skirt 140 (also referred to as an “annular sidewall140”) and a top wall 142. The annular skirt 140 extends axially from atop wall 142. The closure 102 and particularly the annular skirt 140 issized and configured to receive and attach to the sidewall 108 andparticularly the upper sidewall portion 112 to secure the closure 102 tothe bottom 104.

In one example, the annular skirt 140 and the top wall 142 are formedfrom a single piece of material. In one particular example, the annularskirt 140 and the top wall 142 are formed from sheet metal and stampedor drawn from a single piece of sheet metal.

A bottom end 144 (opposite the top wall 142) of the annular skirt 140 iscurled or hemmed to provide strength and protect the user from potentialsharp edges generated during the forming process. In an example, theattachment tab 124 is formed in a radially inner portion of the curlformed in the bottom end 144. The attachment tab 124 may be an axiallycrushed portion of the curl, such as illustrated in FIG. 3. As notedabove, the attachment tab 124 cooperates with the thread 120 and therecess 122 to secure the container closure 102 to the container bottom104.

The annular sidewall 140 includes a radially inward extending rib 146.The rib 146 is axially offset from top wall 142 forming a gaptherebetween. In this example, the inner diameter D1 of the rib 146 isgreater than an inner diameter D2 of the curl formed by bottom end 144.Thus, the inner ends of the tabs 124 are positioned radially inwardfurther than the radially inner most portion of the rib 146.

The rib 146 in the illustrated example is a continuous rib formed inannular skirt 140. In other embodiments, the rib 146 could bediscontinuous and formed from a plurality of rib portions or inwardextending projections. These plurality of rib portions or projects woulddefine the inner diameter D1.

The rib 146 secures a spring 150 within the annular skirt 140 in the gapformed axially between the top wall 142 and the rib 146.

With reference to FIGS. 3-8, the container 100 is configured such thatwhen the container closure 102 is threadedly attached to the containerbottom by way of cooperating engagement between the attachment tab 124and the threads 120, and particularly the attachment tab 124 and therecesses 122, the spring 150 is axially compressed. More particularly,when the attachment tabs 124 and the recesses 122 are engaged, the uppersidewall portion 112 is axially received into the annular skirt 140sufficiently far to compress spring 150. This compression of spring 150creates a biasing force acting to force the container closure 102 awayfrom the container bottom 104 and secures the tabs 124 in thecorresponding recesses 122. FIG. 8 shows the spring 150 being axiallyspaced from the rib 146 due to this compression.

Thus, in one example, the tabs 124, the recesses 122, the seal surface118, and the rib 146 are dimensioned such that when the tabs 124 are inaxial abutment with the recesses 122, seal surface 118 (e.g. the end ofthe upper sidewall portion 112) is axially above (e.g. closer to topwall 142) a portion of the rib 146. In some examples, this axial offsetcould be provided by the one-time seal 128 or a portion thereof if anouter rim portion of the one-time seal 128 remains attached to the sealsurface 118 after the one time seal 128 has been broken and/or a portionthereof has been removed to provide access to the cavity 106.

In one example, once the one-time seal 128 has been fully removed andthe seal surface 118 is exposed, the components are dimensioned relativeto one another such that the seal surface 118 will act on and compressthe spring 150.

In this example, the container 100 includes a freshness seal 160 thatprovides repeated sealing with the container bottom 104. Typically, thiswill occur between a sealing surface 162 of the freshness seal 160 andthe seal surface 118 of the container bottom 104. The sealing surface162 faces away from the top wall 142.

In this example, the spring 150 acts through the freshness seal 160 toprovide the biasing forces to secure the closure 102 to the bottom 104.This allows the spring 150 to provide biasing forces forcing the sealingsurface 162 into the sealing surface 118.

The freshness seal 162 is secured between the rib 146 and the top wall142 with the spring 150 positioned between the top wall 142 and thefreshness seal. In one example, the freshness seal 162 is free floatingrelative to annular skirt 140 as well as spring 150.

The sealing surface 162 of the freshness seal 160 may include an annulargroove 164 formed therein. The size and position of the annular groove164 is such that it aligns with the sealing surface 118 of the uppersidewall portion 112. With reference to FIG. 6, once the one-time useseal 128 is removed (if it is even provided), the annular groove 164will mate with the sealing surface 118 when the container closure 102 isattached to the container bottom 104.

The freshness seal 160 allows for repeated opening and resealing of thecontainer 100. Again, the components are configured such that the spring150 will spring bias the freshness seal 160 and its sealing surface 162axially into sealing engagement with the seal surface 118 after removalof the one-time seal 128.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the inner diameter D3 of the spring 150is smaller than the inner diameter D1 of the rib 146 as well as theinner diameter of the curl formed by the end 144 of the annular skirt140. The outer diameter D4 of the spring 150 is greater than the innerdiameter D1 of the rib 146. The inner diameter D3 of the spring 150 issmaller than or equal to the diameter D5 of the sealing surface 118 (seeFIG. 4). These dimensions allow the spring 150 to be retained betweenthe rib 146 and top wall 142 while projecting radially inward of the rib146 (as well as end 144) so as to allow for acting on the containerbottom 104 to provide the necessary biasing forces.

The freshness seal 160 has an outer diameter D7 that is greater than theinner diameter D1 of the rib 164. The groove 164 of the freshness seal160 has a diameter D6 (measured at the center thereof) that, in someexamples, is substantially equal to the diameter D5 of the sealingsurface 118.

In this example, the spring 150 is a wave spring formed form an annularundulating strip of material (typically metal). The spring 150 hasundulations that allow for the biasing action when compressed. Thespring 150 has a width w1 that is one-half of the difference betweendiameters D4 and D3 that is also greater than the thickness T1. Thewidth W1 is measured generally in the radial direction and the thicknessT1 is generally measured in the axial direction (i.e. parallel to acentral axis of the container). The spring 150 has a height H1 definedby the undulations of the spring 150.

It is a feature in one example that the entire closure 102 is formedfrom recyclable material, such as metal. Further, in some examples, thefreshness seal 160 need not be provided. In some examples, the freshnessseal 160 is formed from metal.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patentscited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent asif each reference were individually and specifically indicated to beincorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the an upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container closure comprising: a top wall; anannular skirt extending from the top wall, the annular skirt having aradially inward extending rib; and a spring located between the radiallyinward extending rib and the top wall, the spring having an outerdimension that is greater than an inner diameter of the rib, the springhaving an inner dimension that is less than an inner diameter of therib.
 2. The container closure of claim 1, wherein the top wall andannular skirt are formed from a continuous piece of stamped metal. 3.The container closure of claim 1, wherein the spring is a wave springformed from an annular undulating strip of material.
 4. The containerclosure of claim 3, wherein the spring is metal.
 5. The containerclosure of claim 3, wherein the spring has an axial height defined bythe undulations.
 6. The container closure of claim 3, wherein the springhas an axial thickness defined between a top surface of the spring and abottom surface of the spring and the spring has a width that is one-halfof the difference between the inner and outer dimensions, the widthbeing greater than the thickness.
 7. The container closure of claim 1,wherein the spring is an annular member that extends around a centralaxis, the height and axial thickness being measured generally parallelto the central axis.
 8. The container closure of claim 1, wherein theannular skirt terminates in a curled end, the curled end having at leastone attachment tab formed therein, the attachment tab extending radiallyinward further than the remainder of the curled end, the attachment tabconfigured to cooperate with a thread of a container bottom to securethe annular skirt to the container bottom.
 9. The container closure ofclaim 1, further comprising a freshness seal, the freshness seal havinga second outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of therib, the freshness seal extending radially inward beyond the innerperiphery of the rib providing an exposed lower surface that faces awayfrom the top wall, the freshness seal being located between the rib andthe top wall, the freshness seal being positioned axially between therib and the spring, the freshness seal being axially slidable betweenthe top wall and the rib.
 10. The container closure of claim 9, whereinwhen the freshness seal is moved a predetermined distance from the ribtowards the top wall, the spring biases the freshness seal towards therib.
 11. The container closure of claim 10, wherein the freshness sealis made from metal.
 12. The container closure of claim 10, wherein thefreshness seal has a sealing surface that faces axially away from thetop wall, the sealing surface including an annular groove formedtherein, the groove being positioned radially inward of the innerdiameter of the rib.
 13. A container comprising: a container closure ofclaim 1; and a container bottom having a storage cavity, the containerbottom having an annular sidewall, a free end of the annular sidewalldefining a mouth to the storage cavity, the annular sidewall defining athread therein, the tab of the container closure cooperating with thethread of the annular sidewall to secure the container closure to thecontainer bottom; and when the container closure is secured to thecontainer bottom, the spring biases the tab into axial engagement withthe thread.
 14. The container of claim 13, further comprising a one-timeuse seal secured to a free end of the annular sidewall and over themouth; wherein the container closure includes: a freshness seal, thefreshness seal having a second outer diameter that is greater than theinner diameter of the rib, the freshness seal extending radially inwardbeyond the inner periphery of the rib providing an exposed lower surfacethat faces away from the top wall, the freshness seal being locatedbetween the rib and the top wall, the freshness seal being positionedaxially between the rib and the spring, the freshness seal being axiallyslidable between the top wall and the rib; and wherein when thecontainer closure is secured to the container bottom, the spring biasesthe freshness seal into the one-time use seal prior to removal of theone-time use seal.
 15. The container of claim 14, wherein the one-timeuse seal is removed, the spring biases the sealing surface of thefreshness seal into the free end of the annular sidewall when thecontainer closure is secured to the container bottom.
 16. The containerof claim 13, wherein the thread has a rectangular receiving cavity at anend thereof for receipt of the tab when the container closure is fullyattached to the container bottom, the receiving cavity being axiallyoffset from the end of the thread towards the mouth, the spring biasingthe tab into the rectangular receiving cavity such that the containerclosure must be pushed towards the container bottom before it can berotated to remove the container closure from the container bottom. 17.The container of claim 16, wherein the thread and the rectangularreceiving cavity are ribs formed into the annular sidewall of thecontainer bottom.